1
: a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: such as
a
: one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread
b
: a ladder rung
2
a(1)
: an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere
(2)
: a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern
a dance step
(3)
: manner of walking : stride
c
: the sound of a footstep
3
a
: the space passed over in one step
b
: a short distance
c
: the height of one stair
5
a
: a degree, grade, or rank in a scale
b
: a stage in a process
was guided through every step of my career
6
: a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft
especially
: a block supporting the heel of a mast
7
: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
taking steps to improve the situation
8
: a steplike offset or part usually occurring in a series
9
: the interval between two adjacent notes in a musical scale
10
11
: a slight lead in or as if in a race
has a step on the competition
stepped; stepping; steps
1
a
: to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession
They stepped into the elevator.
She stepped inside and closed the door.
I'm sorry, but he just stepped outside for a moment.
When I call your name, please step forward.
She stepped up to the microphone.
I stepped up/down onto the landing.
He stepped back, startled.
Please step away from the moving doors.
They stepped aside to let the paramedics through.
We watched as the passengers stepped ashore.
b
: dance
Joyfully along the contra lines, the dancers held hands, listened to the caller, and stepped to the music …—
Joan Donaldson
Joan Donaldson2
3
: to press down with the foot
step on the brake
4
: to come as if at a single step
stepped into a good job
5
: to extend by or as if by a stairstep
… the room steps down past a viewing area to a projection television screen hung from the ceiling.—Sunset
SunsetA wooden retaining wall—which holds the slope above the staircase—steps up in level sections.—Susan Lang
Susan Lang1
: to take (a pace, etc.) by moving the feet in succession
step three paces
2
a
: to move (the foot) in any direction : set
the first person to step foot on the moon
b
: to traverse (something) on foot
… proud … of stepping this famous pavement …—Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf3
: to go through the steps of (something) : perform
step a minuet
4
: to make (something) erect by fixing the lower end in a step
step the mast
5
: to measure (something) by steps
step off 50 yards
6
a
: to provide (something) with steps
He stepped the front of the stage down into the stalls and built a permanent cyclorama across the full width of the rear wall.—Colin Chambers
Colin Chambers
b
: to make steps in (something)
step a key
7
: to construct or arrange (something) in or as if in steps
… we looked down on an expanse of craggy peaks with terraces stepped up the sides …—Time
Timesee also step on it, step up
: related by virtue of a marriage (as of a parent) and not by blood
stepparent
stepsister
Examples of step in a Sentence
Noun
She took one step forward.
The baby took her first steps today.
I heard steps on the stairs.
The edge of the cliff was only about three steps to my left.
The cottage is just steps from the beach.
He walks with a spring in his step.
She walked down the hall with a quick step.
a major step towards independence
We are taking steps to correct the situation.
Verb
She stepped onto the bus.
They stepped aside to let her pass.
Please step away from the door.
He stepped outside for a moment.
Step in my office for a minute.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
The State Building Commission will take up the first steps toward overhauling the state's prisons this week.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
For me, stepping inside the domes was a reminder that imagination is a renewable resource.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Younger activists there took it one step further.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
The State Building Commission will take up the first steps toward overhauling the state's prisons this week.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
So to step away from that consciously is interesting.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
For me, stepping inside the domes was a reminder that imagination is a renewable resource.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step
Cite this Entry
“Step.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
step
1 of 2 noun2
3
a
: the space passed over in one step
b
: a short distance
only a step away
c
: the height of one stair
4
plural
: course entry 1 sense 2, way
guided their steps down the path
5
a
: a level or rank in a scale
one step nearer graduation
b
: a stage in a process
6
: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
took steps to correct the situation
7
: a musical scale degree
step
2 of 2 verb
stepped; stepping
1
a
: to move or take by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in order
step three paces
stepped ashore
2
a
: to go on foot : walk
step outside
b
: to move briskly
really stepped along
3
: to press down with the foot
step on a nail
4
: to come as if at a single step
step into a good job
5
: to measure by steps
stepper
noun
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